Department for Transport

Wrexham-Bidston Railway Line: Electrification

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to electrify the Wrexham to Bidston railway line.

Claire Perry: The proposals to electrify the Wrexham to Bidston rail line are a local matter and being led by Merseytravel and the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government is considering the economic benefits of investment on a number of lines in North Wales.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons vehicle excise duty is no longer valid if a vehicle changes ownership; and whether motorists were consulted about that change.

Andrew Jones: The decision to end vehicle excise duty at the point of sale was introduced as a consumer protection measure to prevent those purchasing second-hand vehicles unknowingly keeping an unlicensed vehicle in the absence of a tax disc.   This change was introduced in the Finance Act 2014. Her Majesty’s Treasury published this in draft form for public consultation in December 2013 on GOV.UK. The majority of comments received (83%) supported the change.The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) also carried out a survey asking members of the public what they thought of the change and 78% of respondents were supportive.

Immobilisation of Vehicles: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles the DVLA clamped in each month of the most recent year for which figures are available.

Andrew Jones: The table below provides a monthly breakdown of the number of vehicles that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has clamped for the financial year 2014-15. The DVLA may also authorise others, such as, the police or local authority to take enforcement action against vehicles that are unlicensed. MonthNumber of vehicles clamped by the DVLANumber of vehicles clamped by other authoritiesApril 20144,362852May4,748801June4,686844July4,766868August4,556828September4,751779October5,008798November5,025731December5,920820January 20157,1041,786February7,0191,722March6,9211,709

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much income the DVLA received from vehicle excise duty (a) fees and (b) fines in each month of the most recent year for which figures are available.

Andrew Jones: For the financial year 2013-14 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) received £6,052 million from vehicle excise duty and £41 million from fines. Monthly figures are not available.

Railways: West Midlands

Lucy Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to improve the frequency and speed of rail services between Telford and Birmingham.

Claire Perry: Services between Telford and Birmingham are supplied by more than one operator; London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales. Their Franchise Agreements state the minimum service provision of the train operator to protect service provision for passengers. This sees both providing hourly services Monday to Friday and where reasonable, these shall be timed with the other operator to promote a half hourly service. Whilst the train operators cannot run fewer services than are stipulated (nor simply remove a station stop or two as this could mean that the minimum specifications for those removed station stops are not met), if the train operators believe that the demand exists for additional services (which may have quicker journey times) and they have the rolling stock, staff availability and they can obtain the required track access rights, there is nothing to stop them from running more frequent services. My Hon Friend, may wish to contact the operators to explore what options may be available to achieve quicker journeys in the short-term*.Local Councils can also help specify and fund transport solutions if they decide that this is the best way to meet local transport needs. In doing so, they would discuss the feasibility of the scheme with Network Rail and the train operator(s). If the scheme is feasible and represents value for money, the Council would need to be prepared to fund the cost from sources which are available for transport investment.The Department is aware of stakeholder aspirations for improvements in and to the service provision between Telford and Birmingham. As part of the competition for the new long term franchises for this route, public consultations will be opened to help inform the specification for those franchises. *Arriva Trains Wales contact email:customer.relations@arrivatrainswales.co.uk; London Midland contact email: http://www.londonmidland.com/contact/contact-us/contact-form/

Electric Vehicles

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many publicly-funded charging points for electric vehicles have been delivered in each of the last 10 years; and how many such points are planned for delivery in 2015.

Andrew Jones: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 17 June 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The Department for Transport ran a public consultation to help inform the specification for the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, and received over 21,000 responses; a summary of these have been published on the Government’s website. The Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise has specified the replacement of Pacers (which are currently used) on services between Huddersfield and Sheffield) by the start of 2020, and other rolling stock used on the franchise will be subject to a substantial refurbishment. It also specifies an increase in the Sunday service provision on this route by December 2017. Our process for evaluating franchise bids encourages bidders to exceed the minimum specifications we state, and the bids themselves are due in to the Department by 26 June. We are due to announce the outcome towards the end of the year.The number of publicly-funded chargepoints for electric vehicles that have been delivered in each of the last 10 years, including those for domestic use and those that are publicly accessible, is provided below. The first Government funding for chargepoints was in 2010/11 under the Coalition Government. Chargepoint installations in 2015/16 will depend on demand for domestic chargepoints and the detail of new infrastructure schemes to be announced later this year.  2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 579 1,401 3,644 9,520 42,423This question was inadvertently grouped with 2324.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport ran a public consultation to help inform the specification for the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, and received over 21,000 responses; a summary of these have been published on the Government’s website. The Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise has specified the replacement of Pacers (which are currently used) on services between Huddersfield and Sheffield) by the start of 2020, and other rolling stock used on the franchise will be subject to a substantial refurbishment. It also specifies an increase in the Sunday service provision on this route by December 2017. Our process for evaluating franchise bids encourages bidders to exceed the minimum specifications we state, and the bids themselves are due in to the Department by 26 June. We are due to announce the outcome towards the end of the year.The number of publicly-funded chargepoints for electric vehicles that have been delivered in each of the last 10 years, including those for domestic use and those that are publicly accessible, is provided below. The first Government funding for chargepoints was in 2010/11 under the Coalition Government. Chargepoint installations in 2015/16 will depend on demand for domestic chargepoints and the detail of new infrastructure schemes to be announced later this year.  2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 579 1,401 3,644 9,520 42,423This question was inadvertently grouped with 2324.

Electric Vehicles

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's budget was for new charging points for electric vehicles in each of the last 10 years; and what budget he has set for such points for the next five years.

Andrew Jones: The Department's budget and expenditure for new chargepoints for electric vehicles in each of the last 10 years, and for the next five years, is provided below. There was no budget for chargepoints prior to 2009/10.  2009/10***2010/11***2011/122012/13YrBudgetSpendBudgetSpendBudgetSpendBudgetSpend£m0.770.490.810.5210.002.659.225.74  2013/142014/152015-2020YrBudgetSpendBudgetSpendBudgetSpend£m14.6420.6425.90*53.7847.00**N/A * Budget revised upwards to meet demand.   ** This figure includes a Highways England budget of £15m for publicly accessible chargepoints on the Strategic Road Network There will also be contributions from other OLEV schemes including the Cities, Bus and Taxi schemes as these will feature infrastructure elements.   *** The 2009/10 and 2010/11 budgets were for the alternative fuels infrastructure grant, of which electric vehicle chargepoints were one part.

Railways: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve rail links between Huddersfield and Sheffield.

Andrew Jones: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 17 June 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The Department for Transport ran a public consultation to help inform the specification for the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, and received over 21,000 responses; a summary of these have been published on the Government’s website. The Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise has specified the replacement of Pacers (which are currently used) on services between Huddersfield and Sheffield) by the start of 2020, and other rolling stock used on the franchise will be subject to a substantial refurbishment. It also specifies an increase in the Sunday service provision on this route by December 2017. Our process for evaluating franchise bids encourages bidders to exceed the minimum specifications we state, and the bids themselves are due in to the Department by 26 June. We are due to announce the outcome towards the end of the year.  This quesiton was inadvertently grouped with question 2332.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport ran a public consultation to help inform the specification for the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, and received over 21,000 responses; a summary of these have been published on the Government’s website. The Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise has specified the replacement of Pacers (which are currently used) on services between Huddersfield and Sheffield) by the start of 2020, and other rolling stock used on the franchise will be subject to a substantial refurbishment. It also specifies an increase in the Sunday service provision on this route by December 2017. Our process for evaluating franchise bids encourages bidders to exceed the minimum specifications we state, and the bids themselves are due in to the Department by 26 June. We are due to announce the outcome towards the end of the year.  This quesiton was inadvertently grouped with question 2332.

Road Signs and Markings

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans for the new Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions to come into force.

Andrew Jones: As with any legislation, the new Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions will be subject to appropriate scrutiny and we will update the House in due course. In the meantime the regulatory requirements set out in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (as amended) remain in place.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his intention that Phase 2 of High Speed 2 will include a section of track linking the new line at High Leigh with the existing west coast main line at Wigan; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We received over 10,000 responses to the HS2 Phase Two consultation and we are in the process of considering them. No decisions have been made about Phase Two in relation to the consultation. The Government will make an announcement on how it will take Phase Two forward later this year.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Market Towns

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support business and trade in market towns.

Mr Marcus Jones: Since 2010, we have helped create over 360 town teams, and given over £18 million to towns, funding successful initiatives such as ‘Love your Local Market’. We have increased business rate discounts for 300,000 businesses, strengthened the role of Business Improvement Districts, introduced new permitted development rights and are tackling aggressive parking enforcement. The Government has provided advice and assistance to town centre partners, promoting trade and creating vibrant town centres. These include guidance on discretionary rate relief, Business Improvement Districts, digital high streets and guides that showcase successful local initiatives. We also developed the ‘Kick Start Your High Street’ action pack which contains practical guides and support for councils and local people. The Great British High Street Awards, now in its second year, is currently open for entries. Winners across seven categories (London; City; Town centre; Market town; Coastal community; Local centre; Village) share a cash prize, but more importantly, receive mentoring and support such as free training to develop digital skills for local businesses. We have also included a Special Recognition category of awards this year, which will recognise towns who have become ‘Rising Stars’ in turning fortunes around, or in some cases even local people who have made an invaluable personal contribution to their local high streets.  The market town of Belper was the overall winner in the 2014 Competition.

Housing: York Central

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average retail price was of a (a) one-bed, (b) two-bed, (c) three-bed and (d) four-bed unit in (i) council, (ii) registered social landlord and (iii) private housing in York Central constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: Quarterly and annual statistics on mean, median and lower quartile house prices in England and in each local authority district, including York, based on land Registry data, are published in the Department’s live tables 581, 582, 583, 585, 586 and 587 which are available at the following link. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-housing-market-and-house-prices Monthly statistics on the change in average house prices in England, including York, are published by the Land Registry and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/house-price-index-statistical-report The requested level of detail is not held by the Department.

Multiple Occupation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of housing stock (a) outside London and (b) in York Central constituency consists of houses in multiple occupation.

Brandon Lewis: The requested information is not available.

Housing: York Central

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many units of housing in York Central constituency were (a) rented from the City of York Council, (b) rented from registered social landlords, (c) rented from private landlords and (d) owned or mortgaged property in the most recent period for which figures were available.

Brandon Lewis: Annual estimates of dwelling stock by tenure in England and in each local authority district are published in the Department's live table 100 and 104, which are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants  Statistics on social housing lettings in England and in each local authority district including York, during 2013 to 2014, by local authorities and private registered providers are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/social-housing-lettings-in-england-april-2013-to-march-2014 The requested information is not available by Parliamentary Constituency.

Affordable Housing

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 227, if his Department will make an estimate of the average cost as a proportion of local market rent levels, of homes built under the affordable rent model by (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations in (i) England, (ii) London, (iii) the London Borough of Islington and (iv) Islington South and Finsbury constituency in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The comparison is not available. It may be estimated using the following published datasets;  Statistics on average Private Rental Market rents are published by the Valuation Office Agency and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/private-rental-market-statistics-may-2015  The Valuation Office Agency advises that because the composition of this sample changes over time, it is not possible to compare average rents provided in this publication with statistics in previous publications to infer trends in the rental market over time. The statistics therefore provide a snapshot that shows the range of rents across England.  Statistics on local authority rent levels in each local authority area in England are published as part of the local housing statistics data which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-housing-data  Statistics on private registered providers rent levels are published by the Homes and Communities Agency and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistical-data-return-statistical-releases  The statistics are not compiled on the basis of parliamentary constituencies.

Council Housing: Islington

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many council homes whose cost is classified by his Department as high there are in (a) the London Borough of Islington and (b) Islington South and Finsbury constituency.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the value of council homes classified as high by his Department is in (a) London, (b) the London Borough of Islington and (c) Islington South and Finsbury constituency; and how many bedrooms such properties possess.

Brandon Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Affordable Housing

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many new residential properties completed for (a) social rent, (b) affordable rent, (c) market rent, (d) shared equity and (e) shared ownership in (i) Peterborough City Council local authority area, (ii) the East of England and (iii) England were classified as affordable in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on additional social, affordable rented and intermediate affordable homes provided by local authority are published by the department and are available in live tables 1006 to 1008 which are available at;https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the US to ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have regular dialogue with United States on maritime issues, including on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The United States is aware of our support for UNCLOS and Foreign Office legal advisers and officials regularly raise the issue with US counterparts to encourage the US to become party.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to prevent migrants attempting dangerously to cross the Mediterranean.

Mr David Lidington: Holding answer received on 18 June 2015



The UK and other EU Member States have agreed to establish a military Common Security and Defence Policy operation to disrupt trafficking and smuggling networks in the Mediterranean, which will include migrant flows from Libya.To stop the flows across the Mediterranean in the first place, we are engaging with source and transit countries to address the causes why migrants leave their home countries.The UK is a member of the Core Group of the Khartoum Process, which will be important in developing collaboration between EU and source/transit countries. The initial focus will be on developing concrete actions to combat people smuggling and trafficking on the Horn of Africa/East Africa migratory route.We are also working to bring order and stability in Libya to make it a more and more difficult operating environment for smugglers and traffickers. Only a stable and representative Government of National Accord can deal with the political and security challenges Libya faces, including the control of her borders.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Overseas Trade

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the value of international exports from (a) West Yorkshire, (b) North Yorkshire, (c) South Yorkshire, (d) East Yorkshire, (e) Greater Manchester, (f) Greater London and (g) Leeds was for each of the last five years; and whether his Department has made projections for that value in the next five years.

Anna Soubry: Data on the total value of exports are not available below the UK level. Data for the value of goods exports are published at regional level only by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in Regional Trade Statistics. Data on the value of service exports by region are not available. Of the areas for which data have been requested only London has data available as this is reported as a region. The London region consists of the City of London and the 32 London Boroughs. The value of goods exports from the London region in the past five years is shown below. The Department has not made projections for the value of exports in the next five years. International goods exports from the London region (£ billion)2010201120122013201429.636.235.032.728.8Source: HMRC Regional Trade Statistics

Companies: Billing

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that companies do not circumvent the 30-day standard for paying suppliers by relocating their payment departments to other countries.

Anna Soubry: The Prompt Payment Code is a voluntary code for public, private and third sector organisations. Recent changes introduced a 30 day payment terms as a target which all signatories should work towards, and a maximum 60 day term. Whilst all signatories are actively encouraged to start complying with this early, it will come into force next year. The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 provides the power to introduce a reporting requirement for all large companies to report on their payment practices and performance. This requirement will be used to monitor the payment performance of large company signatories to the Code. A company which is registered in the UK will be subject to the new reporting requirements, regardless of where its payment department is located.

Chemicals

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to make it compulsory for producers to add bittering agents to anti-freeze products which contain ethylene glycol.

Anna Soubry: The Department has no plans to make it compulsory for producers to add bittering agents to anti-freeze products which contain ethylene glycol. Antifreeze products are already required to carry appropriate safety warnings under classification and labelling (CLP) regulations.

Department for International Development

Overseas Aid: Farmers

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department's policies on corporate partnerships of the findings of the report of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, Business in Development, published in May 2015; and what steps she plans to take to ensure that UK aid protects the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.

Grant Shapps: DFID published its management response to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact’s Business in Development report on 11 June. The management response sets out the eight actions DFID will take in response to ICAI’s findings on DFID’s work with the private sector, including our corporate partnerships.  There are many ways in which DFID protects the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, for example by helping 6 million farmers in 40 countries across Asia and Africa adapt to climate change, securing the right to land and property for 5.8 million people (including 2.6 million women), and funding research into new technologies to increase productivity. We will make further programming decisions during the forthcoming spending review.

Africa: Food

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will conduct an assessment of whether its strategy in working with multinational companies is effective in reducing poverty and improving the equity and sustainability of Africa's food systems.

Grant Shapps: In the context of African food systems, DFID continually reviews the effectiveness of its relevant policy and programme work, some of which may involve multinational companies. DFID is focused on ensuring agricultural investments are responsible and benefit the poorest.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has to work with international partners to tackle (a) political instability in northern Africa, (b) criminal gangs which profit from human trafficking and (c) other underlying causes of the migrant situation in the Mediterranean.

Justine Greening: DFID works across government to contribute to the overall HMG response to these issues and works closely with international partners, including the World Bank and UN agencies. For example, DFID is helping shape the EU’s development spending to effectively address the root causes of migration across Africa and the Middle East. We are also providing technical expertise through the World Bank in Libya to contribute to the political settlement process and are leading the £125 million DFID funded Arab Partnership Economic Programme Facility (APEF). This programme - led by multilateral partners including the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank and Islamic Development Bank – is helping build more inclusive economies and generate more jobs and opportunities across the region.

Department for Education

Teachers: Conditions of Employment

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what benefits she is seeking through amendment of the provision of teachers' pay and conditions warning notices.

Nick Gibb: The Education and Adoption Bill proposes to amend the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to improve the warning notice process, both for those given on teachers’ pay and conditions grounds, as well as those on performance, leadership or safety grounds. Under the bill, the current fixed 15 day warning notice compliance period will be replaced with a variable compliance period. This will give local authorities, and where applicable regional schools commissioners, more scope in terms of the requirements which they can place on a school’s governing body. They will no longer be constrained by what the governing body can reasonably achieve within just 15 days. These changes apply to all forms of warning notices. Unlike warning notices on performance, leadership or safety grounds, which will be able to be issued by both local authorities and regional schools commissioners on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, teachers’ pay and conditions warning notices will only be available to local authorities.

Academies

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a warning notice will be issued before each academy order is issued.

Nick Gibb: The Education and Adoption Bill proposes that swift action will be taken when a school is judged inadequate by Ofsted and under the Bill an academy order would be made without first issuing a warning notice.   Where a school meets the new Education and Adoption Bill definition of coasting it would become eligible for intervention automatically without the need for a warning notice. Becoming eligible for intervention in this way will not necessarily mean the Regional Schools Commissioner will issue an academy order however. Under the bill, Regional Schools Commissioners will be able to intervene where a coasting school does not have the capacity to improve.   In other cases of underperformance, the school may be issued with a warning notice. Where there is failure to comply an academy order may be made.

Schools: Standards

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether all schools classified as coasting will be issued with an academy order.

Nick Gibb: The Education and Adoption Bill proposes that schools found to be coasting will not automatically be issued with an academy order. Where heads and governors have an effective plan to drive sufficient improvement they will have the time and space to do so. Where this capacity to improve is not evident, the Regional Schools Commissioners will, under the bill, be given the power to require the school to accept support, including making an academy order and bringing in an established academy sponsor where necessary.

Speech Therapy

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the joint commissioning with clinical commissioning groups of speech and language therapy.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has not issued specific guidance on joint commissioning for speech and language therapy. Chapter three of the 0 – 25 Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 2015 provides guidance on working together for joint outcomes which includes guidance on joint commissioning. The department worked closely with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists when developing the guidance. The Royal College also issued its own guidance to speech and language therapists on the new duties placed on health partners by the Children and Families Act 2014.   More broadly, the department has contributed to guidance and resources on joint commissioning provided by the Council for Disabled Children, the National Development Team for Inclusion and Mott Macdonald.

Ministry of Justice

Missing Persons

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a new legal status of guardian of the property and affairs of a missing person.

Dominic Raab: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for York Outer on 15 June 2015, which can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&member=4079&uin=1400.

Theft: North West

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were convicted of theft in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency, (b) Stockport local authority area, (c) Tameside local authority area and (d) the North West in (i) each year since 2010 and (ii) 2015 to date.

Andrew Selous: Theft is unacceptable and the enforcement agencies will take action where appropriate. The number of offenders found guilty of theft offences at all courts in the North West Region, with breakdowns of those found guilty in the Stockport and Tameside Local Justice Areas, from 2010 to 2014 can be viewed in Table 1. The data shows there has been a general decrease each year in theft prosecution in the North West region. As there are no courts in the Denton and Reddish parliamentary constituency, the figure for that area is zero.Court proceedings data for 2015, including findings of guilty for theft offences, are planned for publication in spring 2016. Table 1 - Offenders found guilty of theft offences, North West region, 2010 to 2014 (1)(2)   20102011201220132014  Total21,78221,22419,31218,43816,818of which Stockport LJA635568487454345Tameside LJA668770565510455  (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. Ref: PQ 1967

Ministry of Justice: Employment Agencies

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which recruitment agencies have received the five largest allocations of funding from (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies since 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The MoJ does not allocate any funding to recruitment agencies therefore we have interpreted this question to be for the actual spend within the department, its executive agencies and associated bodies. This data is not held centrally therefore we are unable to answer this question as it would incur disproportionate costs.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Training

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will examine the potential savings from unifying basic training for all armed services.

Penny Mordaunt: The Ministry of Defence has no plans to examine the unification of basic training across the three Services.The three Services have unique identities and make unique contributions to Defence which are reflected in their distinctive approaches to training. However, where possible, Defence strives to identify and assess opportunities for joint training efficiencies while still fulfilling individual Service requirements; the Defence Technical Training Change Programme is a good example of a collaborative effort that is seeking to make efficiencies from previously separate single Service technical training activities, managed by a single Defence College for Technical Training.

Army: Staff

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average size of an infantry battalion (a) was in 2010 and (b) is now.

Penny Mordaunt: On 1 April 2010, the average size of an Infantry battalion was 570; the equivalent figure for 1 April 2015 was 530. These figures reflect a reduction in the average size of an Infantry battalion under Army 2020. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and reflect only those Infantry personnel in an Infantry battalion, not any attached personnel from other areas of the Army.On 1 April 2010, the average size of an Infantry battalion was 570; the equivalent figure for 1 April 2015 was 530. These figures reflect a reduction in the average size of an Infantry battalion under Army 2020. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and reflect only those Infantry personnel in an Infantry battalion, not any attached personnel from other areas of the Army.

Armed Forces: Training

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will assess the value for money to the Army of adopting the officer training procedures of the Royal Marines.

Penny Mordaunt: The single Services routinely consider synergies in their training programmes. The Defence Academy in Shrivenham is an example of where joint-service training creates efficiencies for the Defence budget. However, the British Army and Royal Marines have distinct and specific roles, and the training received by their officers recognises this.

Air Force

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will integrate the Parachute Regiment and the SAS into the RAF.

Penny Mordaunt: There are no plans to integrate the Parachute Regiment into the RAF and as the hon. Member will be aware, in line with long held Government policy, we do not comment on matters to do with Special Forces.

Armed Forces: Training

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) officers and (b) warrant officers of each rank are based at each officer training establishment.

Penny Mordaunt: The requested breakdown by rank of trained UK Regular Officers and Warrant Officers based at each officer training establishment, as at 1 April 2015, is provided in the following table: NATO RankBritannia Royal Naval College (Dartmouth)Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (Lympstone)Royal Military Academy (Sandhurst) Royal Air Force College (Cranwell) OF-7-~~-OF-6--~-OF-5~~~~OF-410101010OF-310304030OF-230405090OF-1-20~~OR-910201030OR-8-4030- Note: Figures are rounded and may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. "~" denotes fewer than 5 and “-” denotes zero. Trained UK Regular Forces does not include Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists. NATO Rank Codes equivalence in UK Service Rank (Army) is as follows: OF-7 Major General; OF-6 Brigadier; OF-5 Colonel; OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel; OF-3 Major; OF-2 Captain; OF-1 Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant; OR-9 Warrant Officer Class-1; OR-8 Warrant Officer Class-2.

Rockall

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what foreign incursions have been detected (a) over the airspace and (b) in the territorial waters of the island of Rockall in each year since 1985; and when such incursions took place.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 March 2015 by my right hon. Friend the previous Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Francois) to Question number 218391.No information is held on foreign incursions into the airspace surrounding Rockall since 1985.



218391 - Q n A extract on Territorial Waters
(Word Document, 27 KB)

Spratly Islands

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential military benefits of China's recent land reclamation and construction activities in the Spratly Islands archipelago; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: We, and our allies, keep developments in the South China Sea - including the reclamation of land by the People's Republic of China - under close review. As the Secretary of State for Defence said in a speech at the Shangri-la dialogue on in Singapore on 30 May 2015 "we are disturbed by the scale and speed of current land reclamation activities and the risk that these actions may pose to maritime freedom of navigation and to the stability of the South China Sea." The detail of our assessment of the military utility of Chinese activity is classified. However, it would appear that when complete their reclamation will enable and support the deployment of Chinese military force more widely, more readily and on a more enduring basis in the South China Sea than is currently possible.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Climate Change

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase preparedness for extreme weather and flooding as a result of climate change.

Rory Stewart: We are preparing for the impacts of climate change, including the increased threat of extreme weather and flooding, primarily through the implementation of the first National Adaptation Programme report which Defra published in July 2013. This sets out more than 370 actions across key sectors involving government, business, councils, civil society and academia.   The second round of reporting under the Climate Change Act 2008 Adaptation Reporting Power is currently underway. The process encourages organisations, such as major infrastructure providers and public bodies, to identify current and future climate risks to their organisation and functions, and asks them to develop a plan to address them.   Over the next six years, £2.3 billion will be spent on more than 1,500 schemes to improve flood defences. This will better protect more than 300,000 homes, up to 420,000 acres of agricultural land, 205 miles of railway and 340 miles of roads. This represents an overall reduction in national flood risk of 5%, despite the increased underlying risk from climate change.   National scenarios for flood and coastal risk management over the next 50 years are set out in our Long-Term Investment Scenarios (published December 2014).

Home Office

Home Office: Cost Effectiveness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the HM Treasury press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, what efficiency savings her Department plans to make to achieve reductions of £30 million in its budget.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has already saved the taxpayer £1.5 billion, 23% in real-terms, as part of the 2010 Spending Review, with additional savings made as part of subsequent Autumn Statement and Budget measures.This has been achieved whilst reducing crime by more than a quarter, clamping down on sham marriages, removing more than 24,000 foreign criminals, training more than 160,000 frontline workers in our work to counter radicalisation, excluding more preachers of hate than any other government, and taking down on average 1,000 items of online terrorist-related material per week.For 2015-16 the Home Office has developed plans to reduce spend by a further £0.5 billion, 6.1% in real terms. The additional £30 million will be achieved as part of the department’s measures to drive further productivity improvements, value from commercial suppliers and efficiency in the running costs of the department. The £30 million of in-year savings will not come from the core police grant, nor from the department’s counter-terrorism funding for the police.The Government is getting on with the job of repairing the public finances, and to run a surplus in this Parliament. This will create the best conditions for sustainable growth.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to prevent the development of an underage binge-drinking culture.

Mike Penning: Following on from the Alcohol Strategy published in March 2012, the Government has taken measures to address underage binge drinking including support to parents and young people about the dangers of alcohol.We increased the fine for the sale of alcohol to children to an unlimited amount, and extended the punitive period of closure that can be imposed on a premises which has persistently sold alcohol to children from 48 to 336 hours (two weeks).The Government has also helped schools to draw on expert advice and develop evidence-based practice. This includes funding the Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service (ADEPIS), run by Mentor UK, to help deliver effective alcohol and drug education in the classroom.Additionally, ‘Rise Above’ was recently launched by Public Health England (PHE). This is an online resource and social movement for young people, designed to build their resilience and empower them to make positive choices for their health.Official statistics from surveys of school pupils aged 11-15 have shown a reduction in the proportion who have drunk alcohol in the last week, from 25% in 2003 to 9% in 2013. In addition, the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey shows that ‘binge drinking’ (exceeding more than double the recommended limits in one session) has fallen in the 16-24 age group, from 29% in 2005 to 18% in 2013.

Vetting

Ben Howlett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on introducing a single tier Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure certificate.

Karen Bradley: Enhanced criminal record certificates are available for a range of posts and activities involving particular sensitivity or trust, including working closely with children or vulnerable adults. Applications are based on the relevant workforce, which ensures that any local police information relevant to that category can be considered for disclosure. There are no plans to move away from this position.

HM Treasury

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what policy analysis prompted the Government's decision to propose a directly elected mayor in Manchester.

Greg Hands: There is evidence that having a directly-elected mayor improves economic performance. Fragmented decision-making is linked to poor productivity, and most of the world's greatest cities have strong elected mayors who champion their cities internationally, are directly accountable to the whole city and who can take personal responsibility for dealing with issues like transport, economic development or fighting crime.   Since forming a Combined Authority in 2011, the local councils in Manchester have demonstrated that they work well together and carry out their responsibilities to the people of Manchester effectively. As such, when the combined authority made a compelling bid for further devolution of powers to a Mayor of Manchester, the Government was happy to support their proposals. If other combined authorities come forward with similarly strong proposals the Government would be happy to consider these similarly.

Pensions: Tax Allowances

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse from reducing the tax relief on pensions for people earning more than £150,000 a year in the next three years.

Mr David Gauke: The estimated exchequer cost arising from income tax relief on contributions made to private pensions, and relief on the investment returns to private pensions in 2013-14 was £34.3bn  Revenue effects on reducing tax relief on private pensions for people earning more than £150,000 would depend on how changes were implemented and would likely cause significant behavioural effects.

Treasury: Cost Effectiveness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's press release of 4 June 2015, whether he asked departments to undertake an assessment of their productivity before he wrote to them on 20 May 2015 to ask them to identify efficiency savings.

Greg Hands: The savings for 2015-16 announced on 4 June 2015 are being achieved through further efficiency savings, tighter control of budgets to drive underspends in year, and driving through asset sales. The government is getting on with the job of repairing the public finances. This will create the best conditions for sustainable growth. Increasing productivity is a key part of this Government’s economic plan. The Chancellor will publish a Productivity Plan soon, setting out a long-term vision for productivity growth in the UK.

Treasury: Cost Effectiveness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, what efficiency savings his Department plans to make to achieve reductions of (a) £7 million from the HM Treasury budget and (b) £80 million from the HM Revenue and Customs budget.

Mr David Gauke: HMRC will deliver £80m of savings in 2015-16, starting by looking at prioritising projects in their change programme, which is intended to deliver a wider transformation of HMRC's capabilities, achieve sustainable efficiency savings and improve compliance yield.   HM Treasury will reduce its net expenditure by £7m in 2015-16 through robust spending control and by seeking efficiencies across all HMT bodies.

Children: Day Care

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects (a) registration for tax-free childcare to open and (b) the first payments under tax-free childcare to be delivered.

Damian Hinds: The Government remains committed to bringing forward Tax-Free Childcare to help working families. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will set out the timing of the introduction as part of his Budget.

Children: Day Care

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department will take to help parents who do not have access to a computer or a working internet connection to register for tax-free childcare.

Damian Hinds: Tax-Free Childcare is being designed to be as straightforward as possible for parents. It will be quick and easy to apply online for the vast majority who are able to do so   However, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs will ensure that assistance is provided, usually by telephone, to families who cannot access the internet so that they do not miss out on the support available via Tax-Free Childcare.

Children: Day Care

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a comparative assessment of the levels of financial support available under the current system of employer-supported childcare and tax-free childcare for a (a) single parent paying the basic rate of tax who has one child and who spends under £4,500 per annum on childcare, (b) single parent paying the higher rate of tax who has one child and who spends under £3,000 per annum on childcare, (c) single parent paying the basic rate of tax who has two children and who spends under £4,500 per annum on childcare, (d) single parent paying the higher rate of tax who has two children and who spends under £3,000 per annum on childcare, (e) two-parent household paying the basic rate of tax which has one child and which spends under £9,000 per annum on childcare, (f) two-parent household paying the higher rate of tax which has one child and which spends under £6,000 per annum on childcare, (g) two-parent household paying the basic rate of tax which has two children and which spends under £9,000 per annum on childcare and (h) two-parent household paying the higher rate of tax which has two children and which spends under £6,000 per annum on childcare.

Damian Hinds: A summary of the support available under Tax-Free Childcare and Employer-Supported Childcare for different family groups is provided in ‘Delivering Tax-Free Childcare: the Government’s response to the consultation on design and operation’ (Table 2A) at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318953/PU1607_Tax_free_Childcare_response.pdf.   Tax-Free Childcare will replace Employer Supported Childcare (ESC) but parents who are using ESC will be able to continue to do so while they remain with their current employer and the employer continues to offer it   When the scheme is implemented guidance and support will be provided to help parents make an informed choice about which scheme to access, based on their individual circumstances. This will include an easy-to-use online calculator to show parents what support they may be entitled to.

Treasury: Cost Effectiveness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, whether he will publish his correspondence of 20 May 2015 with government departments.

Greg Hands: I wrote to government departments on 20 May, to ask them to identify savings and achieve underspends this year. The Chancellor announced on 4 June £3bn of departmental savings in 2015-16. These savings will be achieved through further efficiency savings, tighter control of budgets to drive underspends in year, and driving through asset sales

Telecommunications

Chris Bryant: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Digital communications infrastructure strategy, published on 18 March 2015, what the budget is for the UK Guarantees Scheme for each financial year to 2020-21.

Greg Hands: The UK Guarantees Scheme was launched in 2012 and can provide up to £40bn worth of guarantees. The budget is not determined on an annual basis.

Pensions: Fraud

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what reports he has received of frauds designed to take advantage of new pensions flexibilities; and what steps he is taking to protect savers from such frauds.

Harriett Baldwin: Monitoring the market for scams and misselling is the responsibility of the regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Pensions Regulator. The FCA, in line with its remit to protect consumers and ensure markets function in consumers’ interests, has specifically committed to monitoring developments in the retirement income market closely and to take action where consumers are coming to harm or where the market is not operating competitively. The Government remains in close contact with the regulators, and other organisations such as industry trade bodies, on these issues. The FCA recently launched a new high-profile consumer awareness campaign around investment scams, ScamSmart, and the FCA and the Pensions Regulator, along with a number of other relevant organisations, have undertaken a joint publicity campaign to improve consumer awareness of pension scams. It is important that the Government supports this work and Pension Wise was launched to help people understand their options when taking advantage of the pension freedoms, including how to spot and avoid scams.

Pensions: Advisory Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that a Pensions Wise advice service is made available in the City of Bristol.

Harriett Baldwin: The government is committed to providing an inclusive service through Pension Wise and is working with its delivery partners to ensure accessibility of pension guidance across the UK. Telephone appointments are delivered by the Pension Advisory Service and can be accessed in any part of the UK through free, outbound telephone calls. Face-to-face appointments are delivered by over 500 Citizens Advice bureau locations, two of which are in Bristol, on Quay Street and Broad Street. The Hon. Lady is welcome to arrange a visit.

Severn River Crossing

Jessica Morden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money the Exchequer received in VAT receipts from the Severn bridges between 2003 and 2014.

Mr David Gauke: HMRC have a statutory duty of confidentiality which limits the information they can disclose, including to Ministers.

Private Finance Initiative

Margaret Hodge: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many PFI contracts were negotiated by (a) NHS trusts, (b) Academy trusts and (c) local authorities in each year from 2010 to 2015; what the values of those contracts were; and what those contracts were for.

Margaret Hodge: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many PFI projects across central government were signed off in each year from 2010 to 2015; what the values of those contracts were; and what those contracts were for.

Greg Hands: The information requested is publically available and is accessible at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-finance-initiative-projects-2014-summary-data.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Environment Protection

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the Government plans to set a binding 2030 decarbonisation target during this Parliament.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 18 June 2015



We are committed to doing our part to tackle climate change, in line with the Climate Change Act. Under the Act we are already required to reduce UK emissions by 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, and to meet our carbon budgets, which set emissions reduction targets up to 2027. The Climate Change Act also commits us to set an economy-wide carbon budget for the period 2028-32 by 30th June 2016. As we stated in our 2015 manifesto, we will cut emissions as cost-effectively as possible and will not support additional distorting and expensive power sector targets.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Cost Effectiveness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the HM Treasury press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, what efficiency savings his Department plans to make to achieve reductions of £30 million in its budget.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The savings for 2015-16 announced on 4 June 2015 are being achieved through further efficiency savings, tighter control of budgets to drive underspends in year, and driving through asset sales. My Department has undertaken a review of the risks and opportunity within the Departmental group and I am confident that an underspend of £30m will be delivered by the end of the financial year. This will be achieved through careful financial management to bring expenditure in below budget and on further efficiencies delivered across the group. The government is getting on with the job of repairing the public finances, and to run a surplus in this Parliament. This will create the best conditions for sustainable growth.

Telecommunications

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Digital communications infrastructure strategy, published on 18 March 2015, when he will raise the universal service obligation to 5 mbps; and what form that obligation will take.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The government is currently considering a range of options for the provision of universal broadband, including the role that the Universal Service Obligation can play in ensuring a basic level of service is delivered to consumers. The Universal Service Directive, part of the EU telecoms framework, sets the terms under which a Universal Service Obligation can be introduced. Ofcom has a key advisory role to play.

Telecommunications

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Digital communications infrastructure strategy, published on 18 March 2015, if he will launch a consultation on implementation of the European Broadband Directive.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department is currently working to ensure the EU Broadband Cost Reduction Directive is implemented appropriately. The Directive introduces a range of provisions aimed at facilitating infrastructure sharing across the main infrastructure sectors in order to reduce the costs of rolling out high speed broadband networks.  My officials are liaising with stakeholders across the UK to assess the likely impact of the Directive, and plan to consult publicly on implementation later this year.

Telecommunications

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Digital communications infrastructure strategy, published on 18 March 2015, when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on the Electronic Communications Code.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department received a total of 153 response to the consultation launched in February 2015 on the reform of the Electronic Communications Code, my officials are currently analysing these responses and I will respond to Parliament in due course. Government remains committed to delivering a reformed Code that is clear, fit for the purpose of rolling out modern electronic communications apparatus, and supports a UK network that provides consumers with a choice of high quality telecommunications services

Public Libraries: Wifi

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many public libraries in Ashfield constituency do not have free wifi; and by what date he plans that all public libraries will have access to free wifi.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Following the Ashfield (Electoral Changes) Order 2015 (Statutory Instrument 2015: No. 112), my Department estimates that one public library in the constituency does not currently have WiFi. On 18 March it was announced, as part of the Budget 2015, that £7.4m is being made available to help all public libraries to install WiFi. This programme will be run via Arts Council England who aim to launch the scheme in July 2015.

Broadcasting: Disability

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with sensory loss have full access to subtitles and audio description whilst using on-demand content.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government remains committed to seeing an improvement in the provision of access services for video-on-demand (VoD) services and will continue to monitor progress. If the 2015 ATVOD’s annual survey of VOD Services indicates that significant progress has not been made, then as stated in the Connectivity, Content and Consumers Paper (July 2013) we will consider legislation in 2016.

British Telecom

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer has received from (a) Talk Talk and (b) Sky on the structural separation of BT.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from (a) Talk Talk and (b) Sky on the structural separation of BT.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations the Prime Minister has received from (a) Talk Talk and (b) Sky on the structural separation of BT.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ministers and officials regularly receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Department of Health

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to implement HPV vaccinations for (a) boys and (b) men who have sex with men.

Jane Ellison: The Government is advised on all immunisation matters by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI is considering the potential extension of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme to include adolescent boys and men who have sex with men (MSM).   Following provisional advice issued by the JCVI last year that the HPV vaccine should be offered to MSM aged 16-40 years attending Genito-Urinary Medicine and HIV clinics, if it can be delivered at a cost effective price, the JCVI hopes to consider further evidence on this later this year. A final statement will be issued by the JCVI following the completion of the work and the development of its final advice.   The JCVI’s advice on a vaccination programme for boys will take into account Public Health England modelling work on the impact and cost-effectiveness of such a programme. This is a complex piece of work and the JCVI may not be in a position to provide final advice until 2017.   We look forward to receiving the JCVI’s final advice on these important issues in due course.

Stem Cells: Research

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much Government funding was allocated to research into therapies using embryonic stem cells in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how much such funding will be so allocated in the next five years.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much Government funding was allocated to research into therapies using stem cells derived from non-embryonic sources in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how much such funding will be so allocated in the next five years.

George Freeman: The following table shows estimated expenditure by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through its research programmes, research centres and units, and research fellowships on research relating to therapies using embryonic stem cells and therapies using stem cells from non-embryonic sources.   £ million  2011/122012/132013/142014/15Embryonic0.10.10.10.1Non-embryonic4.24.54.94.0   Comparable data for 2010/11 are not available. Total spend by the NIHR on these topics is higher than the figures shown because expenditure by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) on stem cell therapies cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.   Total spend in future years by the NIHR on these topics depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including stem cell therapies. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and the National Health Service, value for money and scientific quality.   The Research Councils are unable to extract data related specifically to stem cell therapies. The spend data below includes all direct stem cell research.   £ 000s  2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)Embryonic2,9793,5083,1602,5132,323Non-embryonic7,9368,3197,4898,5758,034 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Embryonic2160158232351Non-embryonic15,07417,63416,42013,56813,844 Medical Research Council (MRC)Embryonic7,6396,8866,1905,189n/aNon-embryonic17,50419,90019,83122,207n/aEmbryonic and non-embryonic12,79012,36117,98627,241n/a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)Non-embryonic000918   Notes - BBSRC data in the ‘non-embryonic’ category covers research involving adult stem cells, including research relating to foetal, cord blood and induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPS), both adult and embryonic stem cells, where the research is generic or where the cell type is not defined. This category also includes the BBSRC contribution to the UK National Stem Cell Network, Stem Cells for Safer Medicine Ltd and MRC Stem Cell Bank. - BBSRC figures for 2014/15 are incomplete and include forecast spend for strategic institute programme grants, rather than actual spend in this year. - BBSRC figures exclude the ‘routine’ use of mouse embryonic stem cell lines to generate transgenic mice, unless for the purpose of studying some aspect of stem cell biology. - MRC data for 2014/15 is currently unavailable.   The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has not invested any direct funding in this area. However, in relation to stem cell research and legal implications the AHRC has invested £50,000 since 2012.   The Cell Therapy Catapult, which was established in 2012, has received the following funding.   £ 000s  2012/132013/142014/15Embryonic02000Non-embryonic4,94416,51812,750   The commitment to the Cell Therapy Catapult going forward up to 2018/19 will be £10 million per annum. This will, however, be across all areas and has not been separated out into different cell type categories.   At Budget 2014 the Cell Therapy Catapult was allocated £34 million for the establishment of a Cell Manufacturing centre. The nature of cells being manufactured has not been decided yet so may involve stem cells.   Innovate UK has committed the following funding.   £ 000s  2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15Embryonic6742512020090Non-embryonic2,1422,5891993,3393,526   Funding to Innovate UK for future years will be subject to the spending review.

Sodium Valproate

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he holds on what knowledge his Department had of the emergence of risks associated with sodium valproate within the first five years following first prescription of that drug.

George Freeman: Sodium valproate was licensed in the United Kingdom in 1972 as a treatment for epilepsy and was marketed in 1974 for general prescription. The risks known to be associated with sodium valproate at that time were described in the data sheet first published in 1975 in the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Data Sheet Compendium. A copy is attached.   The safety of sodium valproate was monitored after licensing using data from the Yellow Card Scheme, which was set up in 1964 to collect reports of suspected adverse reactions to medicines. The data sheet published in the 1980-81 ABPI Data Sheet Compendium reflects the safety profile of sodium valproate following five years of availability on general prescription. A copy is attached. 



ABPI Datasheet for Epilim - 1975
(PDF Document, 195.82 KB)




ABPI Datasheet for Epilim - 1980-81
(PDF Document, 239.67 KB)

Drugs: Misuse

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the number of people in England involuntarily addicted to prescribed drugs in each year since 2010.

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people in England who have been prescribed benzodiazepines and z drugs for longer than four weeks in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: Information is not held centrally on the number of people in England who are involuntarily addicted to prescribed drugs.   Information is not held centrally on the number of people prescribed particular medicines or the duration of treatment.

Radiotherapy: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answers of 17 March 2015 to Questions 227042 and 227043, from which budget NHS England will allocate funding for the building of the proton beam centres at the Christie Hospital in Manchester and University College Hospital London; and what contingency arrangements are in place for the planned budget being exceeded.

Jane Ellison: The £250 million funding for the building and equipping of the proton beam therapy centres at the Christie Hospital in Manchester and University College Hospital London is being funded by the Department and not NHS England.

Radiotherapy: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals in the North East are treating patients with (a) stereotactic radiosurgery (b) stereotactic ablative radiotherapy; and how many patients have been treated in both categories since April 2013.

Jane Ellison: On 15 June 2015, NHS England announced that the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are among 17 centres across the country to begin to treat patients with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), as part of a £15 million investment to assess the use of SABR.   The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be among the first centres to treat patients with SABR.   Source: The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Hospital Episodes Statistics database 2013-14.   Notes:  1. 2013-14 is the latest data available. 2. Return is based on using the codes supplied by the classifications service (A10.7 Stereotactic radiosurgery on tissue of the brain and Y91.5 Megavoltage treatment for hypofractioned stereotactic radiotherapy). 3. There are no specific OPCS-4.7 codes that classify stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. The terms stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy are sometimes used synonymously.

Stem Cells: Research

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support scientific research into stem cell transplantation.

George Freeman: A wide range of research relating to stem cell transplantation is supported by the Department through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The translation of scientific advances to the clinic is supported through NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Units, clinical research facilities and experimental cancer medicine centres (funded jointly with Cancer Research UK). The NIHR clinical research network supports the coordination of clinical trials including any involving stem cell transplantation. NHS Blood and Transplant are directly involved in a number of research projects and provide an essential part of the necessary infrastructure supporting research in this field. NHS England supports the important role of innovation and research in transforming the quality of services.

NHS England: Public Consultation

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects NHS England to respond to its consultation on Investing in Specialised Services.

George Freeman: NHS England expects to publish its response to the Investing in Specialised Services consultation by the end of June 2015.